The Pera Palace opened in 1892 on the hill of Pera, today Beyoğlu, above the Golden Horn. It was built to receive the passengers of the Orient Express, who arrived in Istanbul after the journey from Paris, and it was one of the first European-style hotels of the city. More than a century later it remains one of the most historic luxury hotels in Istanbul.
History
The hotel received kings, diplomats, spies and writers during the last decades of the Ottoman Empire and the first years of the Turkish Republic. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed there, and his room has been kept as a small museum. The hotel is also linked to Agatha Christie, a regular guest, and room 411 bears her name. The Pera Palace reopened in 2010 after a major restoration.
Architecture and design
The architect Alexander Vallaury designed the building, combining neoclassical, Art Nouveau and Oriental influences. The Kubbeli Saloon, under its domed ceiling, the wrought-iron lift, one of the first electric lifts in the city, and the marble staircase give the hotel its atmosphere.
Location
The hotel stands in Tepebaşı, close to İstiklal Avenue, the Galata Tower and the Istanbul Modern, with the historic peninsula across the Golden Horn.
Weddings and events
The Kubbeli Saloon and the hotel’s historic rooms host weddings, receptions and private dinners. Send your date, guest count and occasion through the request form on this page, directly to the events team.
At a glance
What sets it apart
- 01Opened in 1892 for passengers of the Orient Express
- 02Room 411, named after Agatha Christie
- 03Atatürk’s room preserved as a small museum
- 04The domed Kubbeli Saloon and its historic lift
Chronology
Dates that matter
1892
The hotel is built in Pera for the passengers of the Orient Express.
1917
Mustafa Kemal, the future Atatürk, stays at the hotel for the first time.
1941
A bomb explodes in the hotel in March during a visit by the British ambassador's party.
1981
Room 101, Atatürk's room, becomes a museum for the centenary of his birth.
2006
The hotel closes for a complete restoration.
2010
The Pera Palace reopens in September.